Kidnapped Lagos teachers, students regain freedom

Respite came the way of authorities of Model College, Epe, Lagos and parents, as the kidnapped teachers and students regained freedom last night.

Gunmen had stormed the school last week and abducted the school’s vice principal, four students and four teachers. Two students were immediately released by the kidnappers same day.

It was gathered that the teachers and students, were, last night, dropped off by the kidnappers, from where policemen picked them. The students were returned to their parents.

The gunmen had stormed the school, last week at about 7.45am in three speed boats when the students were observing their morning assembly and abducted the victims. The armed men marched them through the bush path and escaped in their boats through Ogbere River.

On September 17, four landlords were kidnapped in Isheri, a boundary town between Lagos and Ogun states.

They were having a walk-out when about eight gunmen stormed the area and took them away. The victims were released after four days in captivity. Mr Abba Kyari of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force arrested four suspects.

But yesterday, the kidnappers abandoned two students, who were later rescued in the creek.

A student told investigators that the hoodlums came through the gate: ”They met us during our morning prayers. They were armed with sophisticated weapons and when we saw them, we ran helter skelter. We later discovered that our teachers and four students were taken away.

“We later heard that two of our colleagues have been released.”

A Police source told Newsmen that the kidnappers scaled through the fence.

He said: “Our preliminary investigation showed that the kidnappers came through the Ogbere River. There were two groups in three speedboats. Some were left to guard the boat while others entered the school.

“When they took the victims away, they abandoned two students and went away with four others. They took them away through the Ogbere River. We are going after them. We discovered that one of the abducted teachers, Lukman, is the elder brother to slain former aide to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Olaintan Ayorinde

“As it is, we are trailing them. The Marine Police and other sister agencies are after them”, he noted.

The Commissioner of Police Mr Fatai Owoseni, said:”At about 8am, kidnappers stormed a Model school in Epe and abducted four students, the vice principal and a teacher. It was an unfortunate incident. We have rescued two of the students and we are after the kidnappers.